This sweater pattern was created by Courtney Walters, a librarian in Bettendorf, Iowa. Every other year, the Library uses the Global Gathering series to highlight a particular country or region of the world. In 2015, Global Gathering Norway included two months of programs and activities that highlighted Norwegian life, history and culture, including a knit-along of this sweater pattern and accompanying gauge hat. ___________________________________

A traditional-style Norwegian ski sweater, worked in two colors. Available from toddler to adult XL sizes. This sweater is meant to be slightly oversized, and it is recommended to knit it with up to 4 inches of ease. It is also quite long.

Spaces are included in the pattern to insert custom stitch counts to help you knit the sweater on an alternate gauge. See the math worksheet at the end of this pattern, or the accompanying link to a Google document worksheet (downloadable). You may obtain your gauge and practice your color work technique by knitting the Global Gathering Norway hat in the yarn you intend to use for your sweater. You will need approximately 150-250 extra yards of yarn for the hat, depending on the size you intend to knit.

A question has come up about the sweater pattern. If I am understanding correctly, the question is in relation to my picture of the finished sweater not matching the charted instructions.

You’ll notice that my sweater has a contrasting color ribbing, and then the first chart is knitted with the contrasting color as the main color, before I switch. In other words, I start with white on the ribbing, and the first chart has a white background, but the rest of the sweater has a blue background.

This is not the way the instructions are written. I am having you start with your main color, and keep it throughout as the background. I thought this would be easier, especially for newer color work knitters. I apologize that my picture doesn’t match, but it’s the only finished product I had pictures of at the time!

Errata

Sleeve length correction:

The pattern has now been amended to correct this issue (8/12/15):

The smallest size should have a finished sleeve length of 11”, not 14”, with 7.5” before beginning the snowflake chart.

Everyone, please check your sleeve length measurements against an existing sweater before committing to a finished length! If necessary, you can use the custom math spread sheet, or the downloadable Exel file (linked on the project page) to figure out your numbers. I think the adult sizes should be OK, as well as the largest “child” size (or adult XS, if you like).

Sleeve simplification an custom math change

The pattern has been updated to change the increases on the sleeves. This eliminates the need for doing two different increase amounts. The custom numbers page has also been simplified, directing you to use the spreadsheet to figure out the necessary numbers. This is partly because the math was proving too tricky to explain simply and correctly in a short space, and partially because most people were opting to use the spreadsheet anyway.